Sisters Present Paper at Annual Meeting

Aug. 25, 2006 – Two sisters, both of whom are doctoral students and alumnae of Southeast Missouri State University, presented a paper at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management held Aug. 11-16 in Atlanta, Ga.

At left is Kathy Hotop-Raines of Jackson, Mo., who is pursuing a doctoral degree in educational leadership and policy analysis through a cooperative doctoral program between Southeast and the University of Missouri-Columbia. Hotop-Raines is a 1988 graduate of Southeast with a bachelor of science degree in vocational home economics and a 1991 graduate with a master’s degree in education. She is currently a second grade teacher and coordinator of religious education at St. Vincent de Paul School in Cape Girardeau.

At right is her sister, Betty Schearf of Oak Point, Texas, who graduated from Southeast in 1985 with a bachelor of science in business administration degree with a major in management and a minor in marketing. In 2002, she earned an EMBA from Texas Women’s University. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree with an emphasis in leadership from Capella University, School of Business and Technology. She is vice president of sales with BZI Fashions, L.L.C.

The conference the two attended explored the linkages among organizational knowledge, managerial action and the major issues that people face in the global and knowledge economy. The Academy of Management is a leading professional association for scholars dedicated to creating and disseminating knowledge about management and organizations.(View larger image of Kathy Hotop-Raines and Betty Schearf)